Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Act 2 Scene 2 Hamlet with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern

7 comments:

Diana B2 said...

2:2 Hamlet with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern.

In this passage Guildenstern and Rosencrantz have just come to spy on Hamlet, the author William Shakespeare suggests that Hamlet is insane. The video I chose was of Act 2 Scene 2. This is where Hamlet shows his true insanity. He does this through his tone and chose of words.

Hamlet is much older in this video than I had portrayed him to be. In the video he looks to be around his 30’s. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz look to be around there 40’s. Hamlet has blonde hair and is wearing a long black coat. Rosencrantz is overweight with dark orange hair. He looks scruffy because he doesn’t look like he has shaved in quite some time. Guildenstern looks to be more fit then Rosencrantz and has dark orange-brown hair that is a little past his ears. Both men are wearing long coats and are wearing scarves. Rosencratz is also wearing a hat.

In the beginning of the play the tone is filled with happiness as old friends meet. The music if up beat and classical as Guilderstern and Rosencrantz come in by train. They are both hanging off of the train anxious for their arrival. Even though they were sent my Claudias and Gertrude they are happy to see Hamlet because of the past history they held. It’s a beautiful snow scenery as the old friends shake hands and smiles are all around. Hamlet states Line 241 “My good friends! How dost thou, Guilderstern? Ah, Rosencrant! Good lads how do you both?” Line 245“On the indifferent children of the Earth” Rosencrantz replies by saying that they are just fine and that they are just children in the Earth. They are not too happy but not too sad just right in the middle. Both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the video they are not children but much older adults. The maker of the video chooses to show by the way tones and moods change quickly. At first they are over whelmed with happiness but soon after the tone of Hamlets voice becomes serious as he asks if they were sent to spy on Hamlet. Line 250 “Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of favors?” Hamlet is not at her head or at her feet but instead right in the middle. Here he admits to his good friends that he has had private time with Ophelia. “She is a strumpet. What news?” Here Hamlet in the video says it fast and is quick to change subject. He states “She is a whore but anyways what’s new?” He does this because he has just realized what he has said. He doesn’t want to ruin her name nor his. Having private time with each other would mean that they both had broken their virtue.

In this passage Hamlet shows Guildenstern and Rosencrantz his first sign of insanity to them. In this passage Hamlet gets upset as he talks about Denmark. Line 262 “Denmark’s a prison. Not only does he state that Denmark is a prison but the whole world is one. Line 265 “Denmark being one o’ th’ worst.” Hamlet states that not only is Denmark is a prison but it is one of the worst. As he says all this both Guildenstern and Rosencrantz start to laugh at him. One of the first times they start to see something strange going on with Hamlet. They start to think Hamlet is joking around but soon start to realize his seriousness. After stating that Denmark is a prison Hamlet walks away. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz look as each other and soon chase after Hamlet wondering why he feels this.

In this passage Hamlet talks about that of what we live in isn’t really. All three men are walking fast as they begin to talk about dreams and ambition. Line 276-279 “Which dreams, indeed, are ambition, for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.” Guildenstern states that we exist in a shadow of a shadow of a dream. Although we think it is real, nothing is what it seems. Everything is fake, and without ambition we have nothing. Line 281 Rosencrantz “Truly, and I gold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow. Their adding another shadow onto what is already not real. Line 282-285 “Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars’ shadows. Shall we to h’ court? For, by my fay, I cannot reason. Hamlets tone begins to rise and get louder as he tries to make his point. He says that if ambition is but of a shadow’s shadow then people who are without ambition are only lifeless humans. He starts to talk and move his hands up in the air. Towards the end of this he starts to run with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to go get drunk because he cannot think of this anymore.

In this passage Hamlet confronts Guildenstern and Rosencrantz about the real reason for their visit. Just as they run through the doors Hamlet stops suddenly. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz do the same. With two guards standing outside of the castle Hamlet starts talking softly as if something serious has happened. Line 287 “No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully attended.” Hamlet states that he will not speak to Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, his old friends like he would his peasants and servants. Also that he will not put them down to their level and class. In the beginning of asking Guildenstern and Rosencrantz if they were sent by the Queen and King, Hamlet seems almost as if he was to cry. As if he was ashamed Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. Then as he goes on and asks again he yells with anger, demanding the truth. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz both look puzzled and confused in what to say. Finally Guildenstern admits line 315 “My lord, we were sent for.”

In this passage Hamlet has admitted he is insane. Line 318-319 “I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth” As Hamlet states this Hamlet, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz start walking up a set of white stairs very slowly. As they are walking up these stairs sad music starts to play in the background. As soon as Hamlet states “I have lost all my mirth” Guildenstern and Rosencrantz take a quick glance at each other as if they weren’t sure if they had heard correctly. Hamlet starts to speak about this beautiful place as he looks up into the ceiling and sky. He has a soothing and calming voice as he starts to describe this beautiful scene that if it was like a dream. Line 325 “Why, it appeareth thing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. What a piece of work is a man, how noble is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable.” He starts to talk about this place as if it was wonderful. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are doing nothing more than just standing and listening to Hamlet. They seem fascinated with this wonderful place. Line 332“ and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” Hamlet’s tone in voice changes from very calming to angry. Rosencrantz is rocking back and forth as Hamlet is speaking to him. Hamlet changes tone as he starts to speak about how this beautiful place that he had just described is nothing and mean nothing. Everything now means nothing to him, not even a woman.

Hamlet has gone insane and has lost his mind. Hamlet changes from subject to subject in this passage. Not only does he change from subject but also in the way he speaks about it. In one line he could be saying it is the best thing in the world and in the next line it is the most awful thing. Shakespeare does this to show his readers the seriousness and progressiveness of his illness.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Dennis Chen 3-6-08
Prd 2 English


Hamlet: Act 2 Scene 2 with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern



In Act 2 Scene 2 is the scene when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive in town from a train ride that only fits about a couple people. I think the music in the background before they arrive and it sounds like happy dance music, it shows that Hamlet is happy that they have come and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are also happy to see their buddy, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both looked kind of fishy which probably blew their spot and why they are there. Then they talk for a bit and then they start to walk towards the castle before they enter the castle all three of them start to run for some reason. When they get into the door they talk some more and in the background you can hear a noticeable sound of a bell. This part of the video is important because Hamlet finds out that his own friends are trying to get information off him and the bell could represent that he just caught on to what they were trying to do.

Hamlet then questions them and he is showing that he is mad at them because their supposed to be his two best friends since the beginning. Hamlet just wants to get his two friends to tell him the truth, but they both are trying to get out of it so they tried to lie at first. But then Hamlet says “That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever preserved love” and I guess Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were feeling a little guilty and told Hamlet that they were sent for. So now since they have confessed Hamlet isn’t mad at them anymore because they have told him the truth. Now they all walk up to the inside of the castle while talking about why the queen and king wants to know about. Soft music is played at this moment because he is explaining and giving detail what they king and queen really wanted to know about. Hamlet gets into deep detail and all of a sudden the music stopped playing and Hamlet raises his voice at Rosencrantz because he chuckled at something that Hamlet had said, Hamlet asks him what is he thinking about but Rosencrantz response with a “My lord, their was no such stuff in my thoughts.” Then Rosencrantz changes the subject by telling Hamlet that he told something to hitchers and now they are coming to serve him. Hamlet is really excited about this thinking that it would be nice to have them come by.

Through out the video it was a sunny day with snow on the floor. The rest of the video is that Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern have had a little chat and Hamlets friends told him that they were there because of the king, Hamlet filled them in on what’s going on. So basically they shared what they knew to each other because they are still good friends.

Anonymous said...

Catherine Bonna pd2

In the video interpretation of ‘The Tragedy of Prince Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare of Act 2 Scene 2, Hamlet, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz’s dialogue is word for word. The portrayal of Hamlet is spot on to me the way he talks and his actions help his words come across as they should. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s character was well chosen by the director. The director’s choice in keeping the original text also helps with the characterization unlike Mel Gibson’s version in which much of the text and feeling was discarded.

In the short clip Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive by a small train and greet Hamlet with “My honored Lord”. Hamlet exchanges greetings and asks them how they are and they reply “Happy, in that we are not overhappy. On Fortune’s cap we are not the very button” and they exchange more words and Hamlet, Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz start to make friendly jokes of being in the middle of Fortunes “favors” and Hamlet calls Fortune a strumpet. The friends continue to converse with each other speaking on how Denmark is a prison to its own prince Hamlet. Then how dreams are shadows and of those with ambition. Then Hamlet asks why have they come and the two reply that they have traveled just to see him. Hamlet sees through their games and persists that they were sent for; with enough persuasion they give in admitting they were sent for. Hamlet says “I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult on feather”. After this affair the trio speaks of a traveling play group and Hamlet wishes to see them.

The director’s choice for Hamlet was amazing, how he walks and talks all gave the impression that this was really Hamlet. The influxes of voice are also great in how certain words are emphasized more gave his script more feeling. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s character choice was also on its top game. Both actors had the right amount of skill to bring the two to life. The director’s choice in scenery was in good taste also. The snowy landscape displayed a cold feeling and seemed to reflect hamlets feelings on his current mood change. No music was played in the background except when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter which is cheery. The church bells marking the hour mark the part when Hamlet accuses the two of being sent giving the feeling to the light bulb moment of “I got it”. The church bells ringing also increases the mood of anger in Hamlet and his voice raises about the bells. The three actors also bounced of each other with feelings and ques and each actor seemed to be the character. One of the actors are very familiar the one that plays Rosencrantz also plays Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter series. He is a wonderful actor capable on taking a character and making it real which is what he has done for Rosencrantz.

aquaV said...

Auquintia Vaughan
In the scene when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern go see how prince Hamlet is feeling, William Shakespeare, suggests that Hamlet is insane. In Act 2 Scene 2 the king told Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to see what is wrong with prince Hamlet. In this scene, Hamlet shows his true feelings. He does this through his tone and choice of words.
As I was watching the video, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive on a train that fits about 3 people and music is playing as they come to Denmark. They look much older then what I expected. They had beards and look like they are in their late 30’s. Hamlet has blonde hair. He is wearing a black coat with black slacks and a white shirt. Guildenstern looks as if he didn’t shave in a while. He is wearing a gray coat with a scarf around his neck and a hat. When Hamlet first sees Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he seems so happy. His tone seems happy as well. At first all three are over whelmed with happiness but soon after the tone of Hamlets voice changes becomes serious when he asks, “What have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune that she sends you to prison hither?.” In the video hamlet changes the subject real quit.
“Denmark’s a prison”, Hamlet’s tone and expression shows Guildenstern and Rosencrantz his first notice of lunacy to them. “A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ th’ worst,” Hamlet says that Denmark is a prison and the worst. Hamlets face gets really serious. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz start to laugh at what he said. His face gets really upset. He starts to turn red. “Why, then, tis’ none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison.” They thought Hamlet was joking around but soon start to realize his seriousness. They are walking fast and then Rosencrantz said, “Why then, your ambition makes it one. ‘Tis too narrow for your mind,” he thinks that hamlet is so ambitious that Denmark is a prison and it’s too small for his large mind. “Which dreams, indeed, are ambitions, for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream?” Guildenstern states that we exist in a shadow of a shadow of a dream. Although we think it is real, nothing is what it seems. Rosencrantz said, “Truly, and I gold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow.” Their adding another shadow onto what is already not real Hamlets tone begins to rise and get louder as he tries to make his point. He says that if ambition is but of a shadow’s shadow then people who are without ambition are only lifeless humans.
“No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully attended. But in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?” Hamlet saying that he will not speak to Guildenstern and Rosencrantz like they were his servants and he said that they are good friends. Hamlet then asked why have they come to see him. Rosencrantz, said, “to visit you, my lord, no other occasion.” Hamlets tone then changes when he heard, he demanded the truth. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz both look confused in what to say. Hamlet looks as though he is frustrated and says that he knows the king and queen sent for them. Finally Guildenstern admits that they were sent for.
Hamlet has admitted something’s wrong with him. “I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory.” Music starts to play as hamlet states his lines. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz looked at each other as if they didn’t expect to hear something like that. He has a calming voice as he starts talks about why they were sent for. He said he lost all sense of fun, stopped exercising. He feels the whole world feels sterile and empty. Hamlet starts to talk about Denmark and how it was a beautiful place. In these lines he saids what a perfect invention a human is, “What a piece of work is a man, how noble is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world. The paragon of animals.” He also saids how noble in his capactiy to reason. How people are unlimited in thinking, admirable in his shape and movement, and angelic in action. People are godlike in understanding. he saids there nothing more beautiful. People surpass all other animals.Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are doing nothing more than just standing and listening to Hamlet. “and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” Hamlet’s tone in voice changes from very calming to angry. Rosencrantz is smiling as Hamlet is speaking to him."Man delights not me. No, nor women neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so." Hamlets tone gets serious and he was raising his voice as he was talking to Rosencrantz. hamlet said women nor men interest him.
Hamlet has gone insane. Hamlets tone changes thoughout the scene. First he is happy to see his friends. Then his tone changes and he gets angry.William shakespeare shows Hamlets illness though his tone and his choice of words thoughout the book.

Mary Kate W. P1 said...

In the Act 2 Scene 2 video Hamlet speaks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they come to secretly spy on him. The setting takes place outside, in what seems like a farm like area. There is plenty of snow on the ground so we can assume that it is winter. Polonius has just finished speaking with Hamlet, when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern steer their train around the bend to where Hamlet and Polonius have just been conversing. Polonius seems to be in his late 50's, and is chubby with dark, although balding hair.There is joyful music playing in the background while you can hear the playful jeers and laughter from the two playful friends of Hamlet’s as they come nearer. I feel the mood is a very happy one, and I expect that the oncoming approach of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will bring high spirits to the mood of the scene. Polonius leaves as Hamlet goes to greet the friends. They playfully shake hands and welcome each other. Guildenstern is a chubby man that appears to be in his 40's, with red hair and beard, and he wears a dark coat. Rosencrantz also is a little chubby and looks to be in his 40's as well. He has dark hair with a longish beard, and also wears a dark coat with a scarf.

Hamlet looks to be in his 30's, which I did not expect after reading the book first. He has bleach blonde hair, which was also surprising to me because that gives off the feeling of superficiality. He wears dark clothes and speaks as if he were trying to not use any punctuation in his sentences.

The tone seems to immediately change after about one minute of talking to Hamlet. He insists that Denmark is a jail, “A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ th’ worst,”. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern disagree, thinking he is joking. Hamlet says, completely serious, that "to me it is a prison", and starts walking away. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern chase after him, trying to understand and reason with him. They continue to walk through the snow talking, passing evergreens and other trees in the background. It is a nice environment that they are in, and it is very strange that Hamlet is talking about how he thinks the country is a jail, when we can clearly see behind the friends that it is very pretty.

Hamlet begins in a jog, and asks "shall we to the court?" Then he continues to explain why because he "cannot reason". Hamlet runs into the court, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz following, they say "we will wait on you". Hamlet explains that he will not classify them with the rest of his servants. This camera shot is very interesting, because we have Halmet as the main focus of the screen, with both Guildensdtern and Rosencrantz at either shoulder in the background. He speaks to them and we can see each of their reactions to what Hamlet says, confused and puzzled. He whips around to face them, and then we the audience understand that he knows that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were sent purposefully to spy on him. We know this because he pleadingly asks why they have come, as if he knows there is something suspicious going on. He asks them to tell the truth, and they say they were only coming to visit him, and no other occasion. Then he flat out asks them if they were sent for, and they have no reply, which makes it clear to Hamlet that they were. After he gets very angry with them, they admit to it...feeling bad for lying.

The scene cuts to them walking up a flight of stairs and Hamlet telling them why they were sent for. The staircase is concrete, and looks to be very drafty because it still seems like it is outdoors, perhaps it is. They are all still dressed warmly, too. All three gentlemen walk up the stairs, almost in synchrony, as soft music is played in the background. Hamlet speaks to them, almost as if they weren't there at all, yet they listen attentively to his words. His tone changes suddenly when he believes that Guildenstern has laughed at something he said "Man delights not me. No, nor women neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so." Indeed he did smile, so Hamlet takes offense to this. Guildenstern changes his anger wuickly into excitement after mentioning the players that they had encountered on the way. Hamlet gets very excited, and the video clip ends. Throughout the book, Shakespeare uses tone to express the madness of Hamlet, and in this clip the tone of Hamlet is perfectly portrayed.

Anonymous said...

Excuse me, but what´s the name of the video?